merton of the movies-第8节

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mere　adventuress　with　a　secret　viceshe　takes　perfume　in　her　tea；　like　I　saw　that　one　didand　all　her　evil　instincts　are　aroused　at　once　by　Hubert；　who　doesn't　really　care　deeply　for　her；　as　she　has　only　a　surface　appeal　of　mere　sensuous　beauty；　but　he　sees　that　his　wife　is　neglecting　him　and　having　an　affair　with　an　Italian　countI　found　such　a　good　name　for　him；　Count　Ravioliand　staying　out　with　him　until　all　hours；　so　in　a　moment　of　weakness　he　gives　himself　to　Corona　Bartlett；　and　then　sees　that　he　must　break　up　his　home　and　get　a　divorce　and　marry　Corona　to　make　an　honest　woman　of　her；　but　of　course　his　wife　is　brought　to　her　senses；　so　she　sees　that　she　has　been　in　the　wrong　and　has　a　big　scene　with　Corona　in　which　she　scorns　her　and　Corona　slinks　away；　and　she　forgives　Hubert　his　one　false　step　because　it　was　her　fault。　It's　full　of　big　situations；　but　what　I'm　wondering　I'm　wondering　if　I　couldn't　risk　some　comedy　in　it　by　having　the　faithful　old　butler　a　cross…eyed　man。　Nothing　so　outrageous　as　that　creature　we　just　saw；　but　still　noticeably　cross…eyed。　Do　you　think　it　would　lighten　some　of　the　grimmer　scenes；　perhaps；　and　wouldn't　it　be　good　pathos　to　have　the　butler　aware　of　his　infirmity　and　knowing　the　greatest　surgeons　in　the　world　can't　help　him？〃

〃Well；〃　Merton　considered；　〃if　I　were　you　I　shouldn't　chance　it。　It　would　be　mere　acrobatic　humour。　And　why　do　you　want　any　one　to　be　funny　when　you　have　a　big　gripping　thing　of　love　and　hate　like　that？　I　don't　believe　I'd　have　him　cross…eyed。　I'd　have　him　elderly　and　simple　and　dignified。　And　you　don't　want　your　audience　to　laugh；　do　you；　when　he　holds　up　both　hands　to　show　how　shocked　he　is　at　the　way　things　are　going　on　in　that　house？〃

〃Well；　maybe　I　won't　then。　It　was　just　a　thought。　I　believe　you　have　the　right　instinct　in　those　matters；　Merton。　I'll　leave　him　as　he　is。〃

〃Good…night；　then；〃　said　Merton。　〃I　got　to　be　on　the　lot　to…morrow。　My　camera　man's　coming　at　two。　Shooting　some　Western　stuff。〃

〃Oh；　my！　Really？〃

Tessie　gazed　after　him　admiringly。　He　let　himself　into　the　dark　store；　so　lately　the　scene　of　his　torment；　and　on　the　way　to　his　little　room　stopped　to　reach　under　the　grocery　counter　for　those　hidden　savings。　To…night　he　would　add　to　them　the　fifteen　dollars　lavished　upon　him　by　Gashwiler　at　the　close　of　a　week's　toil。　The　money　was　in　a　tobacco　pouch。　He　lighted　the　lamp　on　his　table；　placed　the　three　new　bills　beside　it　and　drew　out　the　hoard。　He　would　count　it　to　confirm　his　memory　of　the　grand　total。

The　bills　were　frayed；　lacking　the　fresh　green　of　new　ones；　weary　looking；　with　an　air　of　being　glad　to　rest　at　last　after　much　passing　from　hand　to　hand　as　symbols　of　wealth。　Their　exalted　present　owner　tenderly　smoothed　cut　several　that　had　become　crumpled；　secured　them　in　a　neat　pile；　adding　the　three　recently　acquired　five…dollar　bills；　and　proceeded　to　count；　moistening　the　ends　of　a　thumb　and　finger　in　defiance　of　the　best　sanitary　teaching。　It　was　no　time　to　think　of　malignant　bacteria。

By　his　remembered　count　he　should　now　be　possessed　of　two　hundred　and　twelve　dollars。　And　there　was　the　two…dollar　bill；　a　limp；　gray　thing；　abraded　almost　beyond　identification。　He　placed　this　down　first；　knowing　that　the　remaining　bills　should　amount　to　two　hundred　and　ten　dollars。　Slowly　he　counted；　to　finish　with　a　look　of　blank；　hesitating　wonder。　He　made　another　count；　hastily；　but　taking　greater　care。　The　wonder　grew。　Again　he　counted；　slowly　this　time；　so　that　there　could　be　no　doubt。　And　now　he　knew！　He　possessed　thirty…three　dollars　more　than　he　had　thought。　Knowing　this　was　right；　he　counted　again　for　the　luxury　of　it。　Two　hundred　and　forty…　five　obvious　dollars！

How　had　he　lost　count？　He　tried　to　recall。　He　could　remember　taking　out　the　money　he　had　paid　Lowell　Hardy　for　the　last　batch　of　Clifford　Armytage　stillsfor　Lowell；　although　making　professional　rates　to　Merton；　still　believed　the　artist　to　be　worth　his　hireand　he　could　remember　taking　some　more　out　to　send　to　the　mail…order　house　in　Chicago　for　the　cowboy　things；　but　it　was　plain　that　he　had　twice；　at　least；　crowded　a　week's　salary　into　the　pouch　and　forgotten　it。

It　was　a　pleasurable　experience；　it　was　like　finding　thirty…three　dollars。　And　he　was　by　that　much　nearer　to　his　goal；　that　much　sooner　would　he　be　released　from　bondage；　thirty…three　dollars　sooner　could　he　look　Gashwiler　in　the　eye　and　say　what　he　thought　of　him　and　his　emporium。　In　his　nightly　prayer　he　did　not　neglect　to　render　thanks　for　this。

He　dressed　the　next　morning　with　a　new　elation。　He　must　be　more　careful　about　keeping　tab　on　his　money；　but　also　it　was　wonderful　to　find　more　than　you　expected。　He　left　the　storeroom　that　reeked　of　kerosene　and　passed　into　the　emporium　to　replace　his　treasure　in　its　hiding　place。　The　big　room　was　dusky　behind　the　drawn　front　curtains；　but　all　the　smells　were　therethe　smell　of　ground　coffee　and　spices　at　the　grocery　counter；　farther　on；　the　smothering　smell　of　prints　and　woolens　and　new　leather。

The　dummies；　waiting　down　by　the　door　to　be　put　outside；　regarded　each　other　in　blank　solemnity。　A　few　big　flies　droned　lazily　about　their　still　forms。　Merton　eyed　the　dusty　floor；　the　gleaming　counters；　the　curtains　that　shielded　the　shelves；　with　a　new　disdain。　Sooner　than　he　had　thought　he　would　bid　them　a　last　farewell。　And　to…day；　at　least；　he　was　free　of　themfree　to　be　on　the　lot　at　two；　to　shoot　Western　stuff。　Let　to…morrow；　with　its　old　round　of　degrading　tasks；　take　care　of　itself。

At　10：30　he　was　in　church。　He　was　not　as　attentive　to　the　sermon　as　he　should　have　been；　for　it　now　occurred　to　him　that　he　had　no　stills　of　himself　in　the　garb　of　a　clergyman。　This　was　worth　considering；　because　he　was　not　going　to　be　one　of　those　one…part　actors。　He　would　have　a　wide　range　of　roles。　He　would　be　able　to　play　anything。　He　wondered　how　the　Rev。　Otto　Carmichael　would　take　the　request　for　a　brief　loan　of　one　of　his　pulpit　suits。　Perhaps　he　was　not　so　old　as　he　looked；　perhaps　he　might　remember　that　he；　too；　had　once　been　young　and　fired　with　high　ideals。　It　would　be　worth　trying。　And　the　things　could　be　returned　after　a　brief　studio　session　with　Lowell　Hardy。　He　saw　himself　cast　in　such　a　part；　the　handsome　young　clergyman；　exponent　of　a　muscular　Christianity。　He　comes　to　the　toughest　cattle　town　in　all　the　great　Southwest；　determined　to　make　honest　men　and　good　women　of　its　sinning　derelicts。　He　wins　the　hearts　of　these　rugged　but　misguided　souls。　Though　at　first　they　treat　him　rough；　they　learn　to　respect　him；　and　they　call　him　the　fighting　parson。　Eventually　he　wins　the　hand　in　marriage　of　the　youngest　of　the　dance…hall　denizens；　a　sweet　young　girl　who　despite　her　evil　surroundings　has　remained　as　pure　and　good　as　she　is　beautiful。

Anyway；　if　he　had　those　clothes　for　an　hour　or　two　while　the　artist　made　a　few　studies　of　him　he　would　have　something　else　to　show　directors　in　search　of　fresh　talent。

After　church　he　ate　a　lonely　meal　served　by　Metta　Judson　at　the　Gashwiler　residence。　The　Gashwilers　were　on　their　accustomed　Sabbath　visit　to　the　distant　farm　of　Mrs。　Gashwiler's　father。　But　as　he　ate　he　became　conscious　that　the　Gashwiler　influence　was　not　wholly　withdrawn。　From　above　the　mantel　he　was　sternly　regarded　by　a　tinted　enlargement　of　his　employer's　face　entitled　Photographic　Study　by　Lowell　Hardy。　Lowell　never　took　photographs　merely。　He　made　photographic　studies；　and　the　specimen　at　hand　was　one　of　his　most　daring　efforts。　Merton　glared　at　it　in　free　hostilitya　clod；　with　ideals　as　false　as　the　artist's　pink　on　his　leathery　cheeks！　He　hurried　his　meal；　glad　to　be　relieved　from　the　inimical　scrutiny。

He　was　glad　to　be　free　from　this　and　from　the　determined　recital　by　Metta　Judson　of　small…town　happenings。　What　cared　he　that　Gus　Giddings　had　been　fined　ten　dollars　and　costs　by　Squire　Belcher　for　his　low　escapade；　or　that　Gus's　father　had　sworn　to　lick　him　within　an　inch　of　his　life　if　he　ever　ketched　him　touching　stimmilints　again？

He　went　to　the　barn；　climbed　to　the　hayloft；　and　undid　the　bundle　containing　his　Buck　Benson　outfit。　This　was　fresh　from　the　mail…　order　house　in　Chicago。　He　took　out　almost　reverently　a　pair　of　high…heeled　boots　with　purple　tops；　a　pair　of　spurs；　a　gay　shirt；　a　gayer　neckerchief；　a　broad…brimmed　hat；　a　leather　holster；　andmost　impressive　of　alla　pair　of　goatskin　chaps　dyed　a　violent　maroon。　All　these　he　excitedly　donned；　the　spurs　last。　Then　he　clambered　down　the　ladder　from　the　loft；　somewhat　impeded　by　the　spurs；　and　went　into　the　kitchen。　Metta　Judson；　washing　dishes；　gave　a　little　cry　of　alarm。　Nothing　like　this　had　ever　before　invaded　the　Gashwiler　home　by　front　door　or　back。

〃Why；　Mert'　Gill；　whatever　you　dressed　up　like　that　for？　My　stars；　you　look　like　a　cowboy　or　something！　Well；　I　must　say！〃

〃Say；　Metta；　do　me　a　favour。　I　want　to　see　how　these　things　look　in　a　glass。　It's　a　cowboy　outfit　for　when　I　play　regular　Buck　Benson　parts；　and　everything's　got　to　be　just　so　or　the　audience　writes　to　the　magazines　about　it　and　makes　fun　of　you。〃

〃Go　ahead；〃　said　Metta。　〃You　can　git　a　fine　look　at　yourself　in　the　tall　glass　in　the　old　lady's　bedroom。〃

Forthwith　he　went；　profaning　a　sanctuary；　to　survey　himself　in　a　glass